I need more gain..please advise
- Thread starter mlamarche
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vinterland
New member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
gain doesn't come from pickups... they can only give you more output to hit the amp harder, thus driving the front end more.
gain doesn't come from pickups... they can only give you more output to hit the amp harder, thus driving the front end more.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: I need more gain..please advise
The Seymour Duncan Livewires Heavy Metal will hit that rig harder than ANY pickup on the planet!!!! Yup, that pickup will distort about any amp that is designed for cleans it has so much output.
The Seymour Duncan Livewires Heavy Metal will hit that rig harder than ANY pickup on the planet!!!! Yup, that pickup will distort about any amp that is designed for cleans it has so much output.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: I need more gain..please advise
Good suggestion but, Livewires Heavy Metal has about 2-3 times the output. I bet if he installed one, he will have to turn the gain down.:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
Good suggestion but, Livewires Heavy Metal has about 2-3 times the output. I bet if he installed one, he will have to turn the gain down.:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
walt
New member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
Then you need to revisit the type of stompboxes used. An overdrive should get you there. You will need to do some tweeking though by adjusting the gain on the amp and pedal. You can't expect to get results if you have the gain on the amp jacked and the drive on the stomp box jacked also. If you can find an Ibenez Tubescreamer or a Boss SD-1 that should get you there.
Then you need to revisit the type of stompboxes used. An overdrive should get you there. You will need to do some tweeking though by adjusting the gain on the amp and pedal. You can't expect to get results if you have the gain on the amp jacked and the drive on the stomp box jacked also. If you can find an Ibenez Tubescreamer or a Boss SD-1 that should get you there.
Mr. B
New member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
C'mon guys lets at least offer the guy some help after criticizing his word choice. We all know what he means.
I love my Demon and I hate to see one orphaned, so before you yank, try adjusting it really close to the strings (just so long as it does not get close enough for the magnet to make the notes warble). Setting it closer will make the Demon a much more agressive sounding animal. Failing that, if you like the tone you are getting out of your Demon, you may want to find one of Duncan's higher output and/or custom-series pickups that sound similar. I have not tried them all, but I would say either a CUSTOM or a JB will give your amp a harder push and have a sound at least in the same ballpark. The JB seems perfect for singing violin tones. I know the CUSTOM 5 will probably be one of the better tone matches to the Demon, but I just don't like it personally because I like my mids.
The invader will definately push your amp harder, and is great for what it does. It seems like it would be a very different sounding pickup though, I have always thought of it as a P'up designed strictly for heavy metal, but I've never had one, so I may be off base there.
C'mon guys lets at least offer the guy some help after criticizing his word choice. We all know what he means.
I love my Demon and I hate to see one orphaned, so before you yank, try adjusting it really close to the strings (just so long as it does not get close enough for the magnet to make the notes warble). Setting it closer will make the Demon a much more agressive sounding animal. Failing that, if you like the tone you are getting out of your Demon, you may want to find one of Duncan's higher output and/or custom-series pickups that sound similar. I have not tried them all, but I would say either a CUSTOM or a JB will give your amp a harder push and have a sound at least in the same ballpark. The JB seems perfect for singing violin tones. I know the CUSTOM 5 will probably be one of the better tone matches to the Demon, but I just don't like it personally because I like my mids.
The invader will definately push your amp harder, and is great for what it does. It seems like it would be a very different sounding pickup though, I have always thought of it as a P'up designed strictly for heavy metal, but I've never had one, so I may be off base there.
Dirtyking
New member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
The Custom is EQed similar to a Demon but has more compression and punch and is less open sounding.
I like to get my gain from the amp rather than pedals, but using a Tubescreamer for leads or more push will get you there. Kinda like using it for an extra gain channel.
The Demon is a great pup in the right rig. So is the Custom. Both are very versitile.
The Custom is EQed similar to a Demon but has more compression and punch and is less open sounding.
I like to get my gain from the amp rather than pedals, but using a Tubescreamer for leads or more push will get you there. Kinda like using it for an extra gain channel.
The Demon is a great pup in the right rig. So is the Custom. Both are very versitile.
Mr. B
New member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
No No! YOUR word choice was fine. People here can be a little nit-picky sometimes.
I admit, I was not thrilled when I first installed the Demon. I was expecting something a little hotter, since it IS called the SCREEEEEEEMING DEEEEEEMON. After I sort of "learned" the pickup (I don't really know how to explain that) it is the PERFECT "let your amp do most of the work" rock and metal pickup. Just the right amount of mids, clear present highs, a thumping low end and quite a bit of bite. I tried the "replace the allen screws with slotted head screws" mod that everyone does, but I thought the Demon lost a lot of its clear highs and character that way.
Yeah, I knew a lot of people would suggest the C5. It is a bit scooped on the mids though, and to my ears, that makes a pickup sound a little flat and not quite as sculptable a tone for leads. I have to say though there are a lot of people here, who I really admire, who love it and their sound clips sound awesome, so its probably some lack of skill on my part rather than the pickup. It should be a very clear sound and have those thumping lows similar to the Demon.
No No! YOUR word choice was fine. People here can be a little nit-picky sometimes.
I admit, I was not thrilled when I first installed the Demon. I was expecting something a little hotter, since it IS called the SCREEEEEEEMING DEEEEEEMON. After I sort of "learned" the pickup (I don't really know how to explain that) it is the PERFECT "let your amp do most of the work" rock and metal pickup. Just the right amount of mids, clear present highs, a thumping low end and quite a bit of bite. I tried the "replace the allen screws with slotted head screws" mod that everyone does, but I thought the Demon lost a lot of its clear highs and character that way.
Yeah, I knew a lot of people would suggest the C5. It is a bit scooped on the mids though, and to my ears, that makes a pickup sound a little flat and not quite as sculptable a tone for leads. I have to say though there are a lot of people here, who I really admire, who love it and their sound clips sound awesome, so its probably some lack of skill on my part rather than the pickup. It should be a very clear sound and have those thumping lows similar to the Demon.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: I need more gain..please advise
I have a few suggestions....
1. Pickup booster. That's probably the easiest/most direct route to what you want. The Duncan pedal would be a great choice, as would an onboard booster, like the ones from EMG or the old Jackson models.
2. Add a ceramic magnet to your Demon. This might be more difficult, as the only place I've found the skinny ceramics is the Invader. However, I've got a Demon with one of those, and it did nothing to the tone, but made the pickup a bit louder, so I know it would do what you want.
I have a few suggestions....
1. Pickup booster. That's probably the easiest/most direct route to what you want. The Duncan pedal would be a great choice, as would an onboard booster, like the ones from EMG or the old Jackson models.
2. Add a ceramic magnet to your Demon. This might be more difficult, as the only place I've found the skinny ceramics is the Invader. However, I've got a Demon with one of those, and it did nothing to the tone, but made the pickup a bit louder, so I know it would do what you want.
Re: I need more gain..please advise
You guys he doesn't need metal livewires to hit that amp alot harder. I've had a demon and next to a JB the demon sounded like my gain was on 3, the JB sounded like the gain was on 8. That demon is pretty weak in output, a JB would be perfect IMO. Or if you really want to hit it hard get the livewire mustaines which have JB/jazz actives in it.
You guys he doesn't need metal livewires to hit that amp alot harder. I've had a demon and next to a JB the demon sounded like my gain was on 3, the JB sounded like the gain was on 8. That demon is pretty weak in output, a JB would be perfect IMO. Or if you really want to hit it hard get the livewire mustaines which have JB/jazz actives in it.
Metalblaze
New member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
Either the Duncan pickup booster or the EMG afterburner will help you in that.
Either the Duncan pickup booster or the EMG afterburner will help you in that.
metlking
Well-known member
Re: I need more gain..please advise
I was in your same situation. I tried a Screamin Demon and it just didn't have enough power in my opinion, after all it is classified as being "medium" in output. I took it out and replaced it with a JB and I've been happy ever since......
I was in your same situation. I tried a Screamin Demon and it just didn't have enough power in my opinion, after all it is classified as being "medium" in output. I took it out and replaced it with a JB and I've been happy ever since......
jerryjg
PinkElephantologist
Re: I need more gain..please advise
Honestly, I dont think you should buy pickups for gain ..maybe upto a point of say, a "Super Distortion" .You should buy pickup for tone. Pedals will give you your gain. If you have a muddy pedal, than you havent found the right one, or your amp sucks. Even with a pup like an "Invader"; I think thats an over the top pup catering to a certain mentality and not actaully designed for tone at all, but could work with the right amp/guitar. Personally, I think you have amp AND guitar issues. If you want true gain, be prepared to spend a couple of thousand on a Mesa Boogie MK. IV, or some other high end amp. Or, you could get a Marshall JCM 800 and use a good tube screamer like I do. If you can get an older Classic Peavey amp, they will give you gourds of gain, but then again, they say "Peavey" on the grill, which thankfully for me( because I get every single one I can find), is not an option for most guitarists. Hey pal-PAYPAL!
Honestly, I dont think you should buy pickups for gain ..maybe upto a point of say, a "Super Distortion" .You should buy pickup for tone. Pedals will give you your gain. If you have a muddy pedal, than you havent found the right one, or your amp sucks. Even with a pup like an "Invader"; I think thats an over the top pup catering to a certain mentality and not actaully designed for tone at all, but could work with the right amp/guitar. Personally, I think you have amp AND guitar issues. If you want true gain, be prepared to spend a couple of thousand on a Mesa Boogie MK. IV, or some other high end amp. Or, you could get a Marshall JCM 800 and use a good tube screamer like I do. If you can get an older Classic Peavey amp, they will give you gourds of gain, but then again, they say "Peavey" on the grill, which thankfully for me( because I get every single one I can find), is not an option for most guitarists. Hey pal-PAYPAL!
F
Forbes
Guest
Re: I need more gain..please advise
Rediculous, i use an Invader and i don't play any metal or extreame gain stuff, in fact my gain is almost always on 5 or less through a JCM800 with no stompboxes. It gives a great thick tone, that doesn't have to be limited to metal.
Rediculous, i use an Invader and i don't play any metal or extreame gain stuff, in fact my gain is almost always on 5 or less through a JCM800 with no stompboxes. It gives a great thick tone, that doesn't have to be limited to metal.
